Spring Forest Clock 🦋 Spring CC 2026

Learn how to make a fully functional clock using your Cricut machine.

This beautiful dimensional clock shows a spring forest scene with trees, an owl, butterflies, ladybirds and a bee.

Don’t fancy making a clock? No problem – a standard layered SVG version of the forest design is also included, without the clock face details.

The finished clock is very sturdy thanks to the layers of cardstock and foam square adding weight.

The edges are finished off with strips of cardstock to make a self-contained clock that looks beautiful from all sides when it is hung up.

A cardstock “hook” to hang the clock up is included.

In order to fit a standard sized clock mechanism, this project requires 12×12 cardstock. Therefore, it can only by made with the various Cricut machines in the Explore or Maker series.

Please note that hand cutting versions are NOT included for the clock version of this project.

Spring clock materials supply list

Here is a list of the materials that I used to make this project.

Please note that some of the links included in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a purchase I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.

Cricut machine
Light blue Cricut cutting mat
Clock mechanism – this is the one I used
Coloured Card (any thickness)
Glue (I like Bearly Art Glue and Collall)
Double-sided tape (optional but helpful for some steps)
Cricut scoring wheel or scoring stylus
Foam squares/pads
Scissors

The clock version of this project can only be made with Cricut machines in the Maker or Explore series, as it requires 12×12 inch cardstock. The non-clock layered design version can be made with smaller machines.

Here is more information about the size of clock mechanism that I used:

If you are choosing a different clock mechanism then be sure to choose one that is square. Do NOT get one with a moulded plastic “hook” on, as shown below, as this will not fit into the design.

If you have the choice between a long or a short “middle” part of the clock, choose the longer option.

If the middle is too short then it won’t fit all the layers of the clock design in it and you may have to glue some of the layers instead of attaching with foam squares.

My favourite glues to use on papercraft projects are Bearly Art Glue and Collall All Purpose Glue.

These are great because they don’t “warp” or bend the cardstock like some glues do. You can use as much of it as you want and the card stays perfect – and it dries perfectly clear too!

Bearly Art Glue comes with a tiny nozzle to make it easy to apply glue to small areas of card. The Collall glue doesn’t come with this, so it’s easiest to decant it into needle tip applicator bottles so that you have more control.

Foundation learning

If you're new to making papercrafts with your cutting machine, check out these links to get you started.

They include videos on topics such as: which file to use with your type of cutting machine, how to load the files into your cutting machine's software, how to cut cardstock with your type of cutting machine, how to recolor and modify/customize the cut files and tips for displaying your projects.

The following tutorials are Cricut-specific, but many of the ideas will work similarly with a Silhouette or ScanNCut machine and any cut files that are shared in them are compatible with all types of cutting machine.

How to score with a Cricut (even without scoring tools)
Print then cut tutorial
Design Space tools (Combine, Attach, Slice, Weld, Flatten, etc.)
Pattern fill tutorial (for making backgrounds & cutting images to a specific shape/size)
Free envelope SVGs that can be sized to fit any card
Presentation boxes for handmade cards
How to write inside cards with Cricut pens
How to cut layered designs at a small size
Design Space tips & tricks
Cricut pens tutorial
How to mount multiple designs in the same frame with magic guides

Cricut clock craft video tutorial

Watch the video below to see how to make this project. Keep scrolling for a written tutorial.

Want to share your thoughts on this project? Click here to visit the video on YouTube.

Written tutorial (with photos!)

Here’s how to make working clock with a Cricut machine.

Step 1) Download the cutting file & upload to Design Space

Get the files using the box below.

Purchase the File(s)

This cut file is available as part of the Instant Access Bundle.

Find out more

Or, purchase this design individually here

Before you upload the SVGs to Design Space, you need to unzip the download folder that they come in.

After unzipping, upload the SVG file(s) into your cutting machine software.

Not sure how to use cut files with your type of machine? The following links lead to videos on how to open cut files in:

The download folder also contains printable PDF versions of the templates for hand cutting.

If you are using Cricut Design Space, start a new project and then click the “Upload” button on the left of the screen.

You can then either click “Browse” to find the file on your computer, or drag-and-drop it in.

For the clock, look in the “Clock Version” subfolder, then go into the “01 Cricut Version” subfolder and upload the file called svg-01-spring-clock-craftwithsarah.svg

Press “Upload” on the next screen.

After uploading, the design should be automatically inserted onto your Canvas.

To hide the left sidebar to give more space on the screen, click the arrow that’s about half way down the page.

If the design doesn’t get inserted onto your Canvas, it will show under “Uploads” in your “Recently Uploaded Images”. Click on it and then press “Add to Canvas” to put it onto your Project.

Need help uploading SVGs? Get step-by-step instructions here in our detailed help guides for Cricut, Silhouette and ScanNCut.

Step 2) Check the size

Check the size of the design is 14 inches wide and 23 inches tall.

If not, change the measurements to match.

TIP: Make sure the padlock icon above the width/height boxes is CLOSED before you resize. If it appears “open”, click it with your mouse to close it.

Click on the design, then press “Ungroup” to separate out the pieces.

Click the green size box and delete it.

Step 3) Format the score lines

This design has quite a few groups within it with score lines. We need to tell the Cricut that we want it to score those lines, not cut them.

Look down the layers panel until you see a subgroup – you know this as it has a chevron arrow on the left.

Click to open the subgroup and have a look at the layers within.

Click the single line layer and change it to “Score” in the Operations dropdown.

Select the entire subgroup and press “Attach”. Attach is what tells the Cricut to do the scoring on the shape underneath.

Repeat this for all other subgroups in the design that contain single lines.

Step 4) Do a test cut to check the size

I recommend cutting two of the pieces before you cut anything else out, so that you can check your clock mechanism fits.

Cut the “hook” part of the design:

And the blue circle with the hole in the middle (not the one with the tabs along the edge).

Check that the back piece fits over your clock mechanism. You should be able to slide it over the mechanism, with it being a tight fit.

On the circle piece, check that the middle of the clock mechanism fits through the central hole.

It’s ok if you have to press quite hard to get it over – mine was a tight fit.

If either of those pieces do NOT fit then you will need to resize the clock design in Design Space.

This is a long, involved process which requires modification of lots of layers. To see how to do this, scroll up this page until you see the video version of the tutorial.

Watch the video from 30 minutes, 30 seconds in to see how to resize.

Step 5) Cut the rest of the project

When you know that your clock mechanism will fit, it’s time to get the rest of the clock cut out.

Click “Make” and follow the instructions on-screen to cut out all the pieces.

You will need 12×12 cardstock for many of the colours but some (for example the butterfly colours) can be cut from smaller pieces or from scraps.

TIP: New to using cardstock with your cutting machine? Check out these machine help guides for Cricut, Silhouette and ScanNCut that go through every step of the process, including tips for getting the best quality cuts from your machine.

Step 6) Build the clock base

Slide the large blue circle with the tabs on the edges over your clock middle.

Make sure it goes all the way to the bottom of the “stick” on the clock.

Look for the small triangle on the outside of the clock. That should be in the “12” position (i.e. at the top middle).

Add foam squares to the bottom of the other blue circle piece.

Slide over the middle of the clock mechanism.

Look for the triangle and make sure it lines up with the matching triangle shape on the first piece.

These triangles MUST be aligned perfectly!

Remove the pieces from the clock mechanism and turn upside down.

Use scissors to snip off the four small rectangles.

We used these to help line up the middles of the first two pieces of card, but they aren’t needed from this point on.

Add some foam pads into the new square hole.

Add the clock mechanism back in, securely well onto the foam squares.

Remember – the triangle on the blue circles must be pointing up to the top, in the “12” position.

Step 7) Build the forest scene & numbers

Build up the forest scene and numbers using the assembly guide below.

A printable version of this is included in your download folder.

For each of the large circle pieces, put them onto the clock mechanism as you work through each layer and make sure the triangles all line up.

After adding the blue number piece with the tabs along the sides, bend the tabs backwards against the sides of the clock.

Fold the tabs on the very bottom blue circle piece upwards against the sides.

Use glue or double-sided tape to stick the front and back tabs together.

Glue on the yellow frame.

This is slightly larger than the clock face, to help hide the edges, so there will be a bit of an overlap.

Try to make this even around all the sides.

Step 8) Seal the edges

Add glue or double-sided tape to the tabs around the side of the clock and attach the strips.

Overlap each strip a little so that there aren’t any gaps.

You may not need to use all the strips.

Step 9) Add the hanger

Fold the score lines of the hanger piece as shown below.

Attach to the back of the clock with foam squares.

Fold the two smaller hanger pieces and glue on top of the larger one.

This gives strength to the hanging part to make sure it can take the weight of the clock.

Step 10) Add the clock hands

Add the clock hands following the instructions that came with your clock mechanism.

Add a battery into the clock.

Set the hands to the correct time, and then you are done!

Handmade clock for spring

Now you have a wonderful working clock to hang in your home.

While the design is spring themed, it can still be hung all year round to add a splash of colour to the room.

This is a fun project to make, and something a little bit “out of the ordinary”.

Love 3D craft projects?